Smile designer

ABSTRACT

Various methods and systems for designing a restored smile are provided. One method includes receiving scan data of a patient&#39;s teeth, developing a digital model of the patient&#39;s teeth via a computing device, where the model represents the patient&#39;s teeth based upon the scan data, creating a dental treatment plan to restore one or more teeth from an initial condition to a successive condition, and wherein a final condition of the one or more is based on the one or more teeth having at least one planned additional restorative tooth structure provided therewith.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/346,502, filed Jan. 9, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/154,634, filed May 23, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No.8,092,215, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure is related generally to the field of dentaltreatment. More particularly, the present disclosure is related to amethod for designing and implementing a restored smile to improve thevisual appearance of a patient's smile and in presenting a modifiedimage of the patient showing the patient with the improved smile.

Treatments having to do with smile improvement can range frominexpensive to expensive and can range from generally non-invasiveand/or time consuming to invasive and/or time consuming. For example,treatments can include whitening, reshaping and restoring, straighteningor other movement of teeth, oral surgery (e.g., to remove teeth or bonemass), plastic surgery (e.g., cheeks, lips, other facial shaping, etc.),and other treatment types.

As the cost, invasiveness, and/or time period for treatment increases,the reluctance of a patient to go forward with the treatment may alsoincrease, in some instances. It may also be difficult for some patientsto understand what the end result of a treatment may be or how theoverall effect on their appearance may be improved, which may also be afactor in deciding whether or not to move forward with a particulartreatment.

Further, in dentistry one goal is often to conserve healthy tooth mass.However, in some instances, such as in some cosmetic dentistryprocedures, healthy tooth mass may be removed aggressively to morequickly improve the smile of the patient. The removal of such healthytooth mass may, in some instances, reduce the overall health and/orlongevity of a patient's teeth.

Also, some treatment professionals may not have the level of skill orexperience needed to properly design and implement an improved smile fora patient. Such treatment professionals may not be able to properlydesign a smile for a patient and therefore may create unhappy patientsand can damage teeth requiring further corrective dental action, whichcan be costly and/or harmful to the teeth.

Additionally, within the dental profession, some treatment professionalsmay not have the skills, training, and/or resources to provide acomprehensive diagnosis and analysis of a patient's smile and/or theoptions to set the right patient expectations with respect to the planto restore the smile. In such instances, patients may become unhappywhen treatment professionals do not have the ability to provide propersmile restoration when completed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a frontal image, on a user interfaceof a computing device, of a patient's face for designing a restoredsmile according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a patient's smile for designing arestored smile according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of an image of a patient's teeth fordesigning a restored smile according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an image of a patient's smile with arestored smile superimposed over the patient's smile according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of an impression of a set of teeth anda digital model of the set of teeth according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the patients teeth and anorthodontic appliance to treat a dental condition of the patientaccording to the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the patient's teeth after the teethhave been treated for a dental condition and are prepared for anadditional restorative tooth structure according to the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of an additional restorative toothstructure according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a frontal photograph of a patient'sface after treating a dental condition and adding a restorative toothstructure according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method embodiment for treating a dental conditionand adding a restorative tooth structure according to the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of a computing device to perform amethod embodiment for treating a dental condition and adding arestorative tooth structure according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide various methods andsystems for designing and presenting a restored or proposed changedsmile. Various embodiments include receiving scan data of a patient'steeth, developing a digital model of the patient's teeth via a computingdevice, where the model represents the patient's teeth based upon thescan data, creating a dental treatment plan to restore one or more teethfrom an initial condition to a successive condition, and wherein a finalcondition of the one or more is based on the one or more teeth having atleast one planned additional restorative tooth structure providedtherewith.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in relation to theaccompanying drawings, which will at least assist in illustrating thevarious features of the various embodiments. In the Figures, the firstdigit of a reference number refers to the Figure in which it is used,while the remaining two digits of the reference number refer to the sameor equivalent parts of embodiment(s) of the present disclosure usedthroughout the several figures of the drawing.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a frontal image, on a user interfaceof a computing device, of a patient's face for designing a restoredsmile according to the present disclosure. In various embodiments, amethod can include providing a frontal image 100 of a patient's faceincluding a smile as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 1. In someembodiments the frontal image 100 can be used to design a restored orchanged smile (hereinafter just generally referred to as a restoredsmile) for a patient.

In some embodiments, the patient can visit a treatment professional toreceive a diagnosis and treatment plan to change the patient's smile toa desired restored smile. For example, a portion of the diagnosis can bedone by uploading a frontal image 100 of the patient's face to acomputing device.

In some embodiments, a digital model can be developed having, forexample, a digital model of the teeth or, in some embodiments, one ormore facial features of the patient in combination with the digitalmodel of the patient's teeth. Such embodiments can, for example, aid inthe image being more realistic thereby allowing the potential patient anopportunity to more readily see the changes in context with their facialfeatures, among other potential benefits.

In some embodiments, portions of the dental treatment plan can beillustrated by images showing what the smile would look like at one ormore different stages of the plan. For example, in some embodiments, thedental treatment plan can be created to also include modeling arestorative tooth structure stage of the plan (e.g., after placement ofone or more veneers).

In this manner, the prospective patient can see how he/she may look oncethat stage of the treatment has been accomplished. Such embodiments canbe helpful, for example, in side-by-side comparison of before and afterimages, and/or for showing a progression from one stage to the next offrom a first stage to a last stage among other comparisons and potentialbenefits.

In some embodiments, the image 100 can, for instance, be manipulated inthe computing device by rotating, cropping, and/or adjusting thebrightness, tone, and/or contrast of the photograph, among othertechniques to allow the treatment professional a better view of thepatient's smile to develop a treatment plan to implement a desiredrestored smile.

In some embodiments, the image 100 can, for example, be manipulated tomanually or automatically detect and reduce glare and/or highlightscaused by oily skin or another condition. This can be accomplished inany suitable manner. For example, executable instructions can be provideto a computing device that can manipulate the image (a device on whichthe image is displayed or on which a user has access to make amanipulation to an image displayed on another device).

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a user interface presented onthe computing device includes a space for viewing the patient includingrestored smile. In some embodiments, this space can be on a separateview than the editing tools shown in FIG. 1, and/or a split space can beprovided to show the before restoration and after restoration, amongother changes that could be made to the presentation of the informationshown in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the user interface includes a number ofediting tools. More, less, or different tools may be provided in variousembodiments and embodiments may allow tools to be added or removed fromvia user selection of tools to be available to them.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the editing tools include a backgroundcolor tool 132, a tooth brightness tool 134, a skin tone tool 136, aneye color tool 138, a skin condition tool 142, and a number of othertools 144. These functionalities will be discussed in more detail below.

With respect to the skin condition editing functionality of FIG. 1,executable instructions can be used to, for instance, identify certainareas on an image that understood to become oily or contain anotherundesirable feature and can include instructions to analyze the dataused to form the image to identify those areas that have a color orpattern that would indicate such an area (e.g., an oily or dry area).This data can then be adjusted based upon one or more patterns and/orcolors that are present near the area or from another source such as adatabase of skin tone information (e.g., within the computing device oron another device), to reduce the glare or other such condition.

In some embodiments, such functionality can be done manually by a userof the computing device, automatically through executable instructions,and/or a combination of these. For example, the select area tool (i.e.,the dashed box icon and button) in the other tools area 144 of the tooleditor portion of the user interface can be used to select a portion ofthe image 100 to be analyzed for oily/dry skin or other skin conditions,or other uses provided in the editing area of the user interface.

In some embodiments, the teeth of the digital model can be manuallyadjusted. For example, if special tooth shapes are desired (e.g., extrapointy canines or extra flat canines, among others) the user of thecomputing device can make such adjustments. Such features can beaccomplished using a tool from the user interface, similar to the othertool selections described herein.

Further, in some embodiments, some teeth shapes may be preselected toallow the user to more easily locate a desired or common tooth shape.Such tooth shapes can be stored in a database.

In some embodiments, such a tool can include executable instructions tocreate gaps where teeth may have been pulled or repositioned to createthe gap. Such instructions could, for example, use a number of colors tocolor the position in which a tooth, or a portion thereof, resides. Insome embodiments, the instructions can be used to identify the size of agap from the scan data and/or data with respect to moving teeth.

In some embodiments, since the user of the computing device may not beskilled in using an image modification program, the number of optionsthat the user may have access to may be limited. For instance, in someembodiments, a user interface may present virtual buttons, tabs, orother suitable user actuation mechanisms to initiate a particularfunctionality.

For example, the interface may have a button for eye coloration (e.g.,red-eye, colored contacts, etc.) modification, oily skin modification,image artifact modification, skin condition modification (e.g., rash,discoloration, acne, blemish, etc.), image background modification,and/or other such features. In some such embodiments, when a useractuates a button, a number of executable instructions can be initiatedto carry out the particular function desired by the user.

For example, with respect to skin condition, the embodiment of FIG. 1includes a skin condition editing tool 142. In the illustratedembodiment of FIG. 1, the tool 142 includes a pull down menu of skinconditions and a fix button for initiating executable instructions formanipulating the image to reduce or remove the skin condition from theimage. In some embodiments, the selection of a skin condition from thepull down menu can change the instructions that are executed and, inturn, the result on the image.

For instance, if a blemish is selected on the pull down menu, thecomputing device will execute instructions for identifying a blemish(e.g., a scar, acne, canker sore, or other type of skin disruption)within the selected area of the image (e.g., using the image as a whole,a selection made using the select area tool, or one of the other toolsprovided) and will manipulate the image to reduce or remove the blemishfrom the image. If oily skin is selected, a different set of executableinstructions may be utilized that will better manipulate the image inorder to reduce or remove the oily skin look from the image.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the user interface provides a certainnumber of background colors, tooth brightness options, skin tones,lighting conditions, eye colors, and skin conditions. By limiting thesein some manners, it may be helpful for the user in being able toeffectively create an image that forecasts what the patient will looklike when the treatment has finished or at a particular phase intreatment.

For instance, in some embodiments, the image 100 can be processed byhaving the background behind the patient's face replaced with a neutralcolor or pattern that may present the patient's face in a moreattractive manner. For example, in some situations a light-coloredindividual may benefit from having a darker background and adark-colored individual may benefit from a lighter background.

Such changes can be accomplished manually or automatically. In theembodiment of FIG. 1, the selection of background is accomplishedthrough the selection of a color from a pull down menu. In theillustrated embodiment, the selection initiates the change in thebackground color. It is to be understood that other manners ofpresenting information with regard to color selection (or any otherediting function) can be utilized and sever other mechanisms forpresenting such information are illustrated herein (e.g., pull downmenus, sliding scale selectors, selection bubbles, buttons, etc.)

In various embodiments, the data for the entire image can be analyzedand, in some embodiments, an area within the image can be defined foranalysis. Selection of an area can, for example, be accomplishedmanually or by executable instructions. For example, as discussed above,a select area tool (i.e., the dashed box icon and button) in the othertools area 144 of the tool editor portion of the user interface can beused to select a portion of the image 100 to be analyzed for oily/dryskin or other skin conditions, or other uses provided in the editingarea of the user interface.

In some embodiments, the number of choices can be limited so that theuser may have an easier time manipulating the image or portion thereof.For example, if the teeth are selected for manipulation, the colorpalette could be adjusted/limited so that only reasonable tooth colorswould be available (e.g., different shades of white and/or off-white asopposed to green, purple, red, etc). For instance, in the embodiment ofFIG. 1, a pull down menu 134 is provided that includes brightness levelstaken from the Vita scale of tooth whiteness. Other such scales or colorranges can be used in the various embodiments disclosed herein.

Such a feature may allow a user that is not particularly experienced toselect a proper and/or suitable color. Such an embodiment may also makethe selection process quicker so that the user can manipulate the imageand show it to a patient within a shorter timeframe.

In various embodiments, the treatment professional can identify keyfeatures of the image in the computing device, such as tooth shade 102,the interpupillary distance 104, the facial midline 106, and the dentalmidline 108, among other features. In some embodiments, these and/orother features can be used to design a smile that fits the patient'sface and/or can be achievable through restorative procedures. In someembodiments, the treatment professional can adjust these key features tobetter reflect standards and norms related to patient's complexion,ethnicity, and age among various other factors.

With respect to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the editing area of the userinterface includes a skin tone editing tool 136. This can be used toadjust the color of the patient's skin (via a sliding scale selector) tomake it more realistic with respect to their actual skin color or to addor remove skin color if a patient is abnormally light skinned or overtanned, among other issues. The embodiment of FIG. 1 includes a facebutton in the other editing tools area 144 of the user interface whichcan be used to select the face of the patient's image in order to makechanges thereto.

The select area tool discussed above can be similarly used to makechanges as described herein to the face of the patient's image. In someembodiments, the select area tool may be able to capture different areashapes. For example, the area illustrated in FIG. 1 is a rectangle(e.g., the rectangular dashed box), but circles, oval, squares,irregular shapes, shapes defined by the user (e.g., by selecting pointson the images to defined an area) can be suitable mechanisms forproviding such functionality.

In various embodiments, executable instructions can be executed by acomputing device to identify the location of the lips, and/or smile.This can be accomplished in any suitable manner. Such embodiments can,for example, identify the color range of the lips versus other colors onthe image (e.g., cheeks, nose, teeth, gums, etc.) based on the colordata of such portions of the image.

Another technique could be to lighten the image until only the lips arestill shaded, since the lips are the darkest facial feature in someinstances. The image could similarly be darkened until only the teethare featured since the teeth are the lightest facial feature in someinstances. As indicated above, other suitable methods may be utilizedand such methods can be accomplished through use of instructionsexecuted by a computing device.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the user interface includes a lips buttonin the bottom left corner of the other tools area 144. In some suchembodiments, by selecting this feature, instructions can be initiatedand executed to select the lips as described above and then changes thelook of the lips can be made or the lip lines can be adjusted for otherpurposes, as described herein.

The embodiment of FIG. 1 also includes a teeth button in the otherediting tools area 144 of the user interface. This can similarly be usedto select the teeth of the patient's image for adjustment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a patient's smile for designing arestored smile according to the present disclosure. In variousembodiments, the frontal image can be provided in a digital format to acomputing device illustrated in FIG. 1 and can be cropped to show thepatient's smile 200, as illustrated in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, thecomputing device can automatically crop and/or scale image 100 to createpatient's smile 200.

In some embodiments, the computing device can include executableinstructions that are executable to identify the patient's inner lipline 202. This can, for example, be accomplished by mapping a number ofreference points on the image and then creating a line that intersectsthe points. In some embodiments, the treatment professional may not haveto precisely identify these reference points, but rather, executableinstructions can be used to automatically adjust the position of thereference points to the actual inner lip line 202, for example, throughuse of techniques described herein with regard to identifying the lipsor teeth on the image.

The patient's inner lip line 202 can be used, for example, to identifythe area in the patient's mouth where the patient's teeth are showing inthe patient's smile, among other uses. In some embodiments, thepatient's inner lip line 202 can indicate where changes to the patient'socclusion may affect the appearance of the patient's smile.

In various embodiments, the patient's inner lip line can be edited. Thiscan be accomplished, for example, by providing executable instructionsto move the line or one or more points that are used to form the line.This movement can be accomplished by input from a user through a userinterface, for example. In some embodiments, the computing device canautomatically adjust the patient's inner lip line by moving, adding, orremoving points along the lip line.

The location of the patient's teeth in relation to the patient's lip canbe modified to create a more desirable smile. In some embodiments, acomputing device can include executable instructions to identify anumber of teeth within the boundaries of the patient's inner lip line202.

As used herein, the inner lip contour is the border line between thelips on the outside and the teeth, gum, and/or open mouth on the inside.The following provides a description of how the lip line can beidentified automatically, semi-automatically, and/or manually.

In some embodiments, a number of initial points can be manually placedby a treatment professional. In various embodiments, these points can beidentified using a computing device and a set of executable instructionsthrough a manner as described herein or another suitable manner.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the inner lip line has sixdefined points. Embodiments of the present disclosure can use more orless points.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, four points are provided in thecorners of the mouth. This can be beneficial, for example, so that noopen mouth area or teeth may be left on the outside of the created lipline. Some embodiments, also as illustrated in FIG. 2 provide a point onboth the upper and lower portions of the lip line.

It may be beneficial in some embodiments, to place the one or both ofthe point close to the center of the mouth. This can be beneficial, forexample, to identify the symmetrical or non-symmetrical aspects of thesmile.

In some embodiments, executable instructions can be utilized toautomatically extract the edges of the lips forming the lip line. Forexample, this can be accomplished by using luminance (brightness) andchrominance (color) information. In such embodiments, the verticalgradient can, for example, be computed to extract the horizontal edgesin the mouth image.

In various embodiments, a computation can be done for the upper andlower lips. In some such embodiments, a result can be an edge image thatcontains both the inner lip contour and other edges, such as teethand/or gums. In addition, a highlight removal algorithm can be applied,in some embodiments, before the edge extraction, to reduce the creationof false edges, if needed.

In some embodiment, the points initially placed can be automaticallyconnected through use of executable instructions. For example, in someembodiments, the computation for the upper and lower lip can be doneindependently for each lip.

In such embodiments, and for reference, using the points illustrated inFIG. 2 as an example, for each lip, the three initial points areconnected by an initial fit (e.g., straight lines or parabola), pointscan then be distributed along this line in small intervals. A costfunction can be used minimized which can, for example, include: strengthof an edge at the position of the points, distance from the six initialpoints, curvature of the line, and deviation of the point intervallength from a mean.

Points can then be iterated through and moved while minimizing the cost.When the cost does not decrease any more, the process has converged. Insome embodiments, the cost function can, for example, be computed on adown sampled image first and then can be refined at original size.

In some embodiments, a treatment professional can manually correctindividual points as needed via a user interface and executableinstructions. In such embodiments, the treatment professional can checkthe output and can move points, for example, through use of a mouse, ifnecessary to adjust the segmentation to the preference of the treatmentprofessional.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of an image of a patient's teeth fordesigning a restored smile according to the present disclosure. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the patient's teeth are photographedand/or scanned to allow a treatment professional to analyze the dentalcondition of the patient.

The image that is created of the patient's teeth can allow the treatmentprofessional to determine a dental treatment that can provide at least aportion of the necessary improvements for a restored smile. Thepatient's teeth can be moved through dental treatment to improve thepatient's occlusion and at least partially restore the patient's smile.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the image 300 of the patient's teethis shown to aid in the treatment professional's diagnosis of thepatient's dental condition. In some embodiments, a number of images aretaken of the patient's teeth from a number of angles and perspectives.These images can be used in combination with an impression of thepatient's teeth and/or a digital model of the patient's teeth todetermine the dental treatment that will help the patient achieve arestored smile.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an image of a patient's smile with arestored smile superimposed over the patient's smile according to thepresent disclosure. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, thepatient's smile 400 has a potential restored smile 402 superimposed overthe patient's smile 400.

This is done to allow the patient and/or treatment professional tovisualize the appearance of the restored smile after treatment. Therestored smile may be of all the displayed teeth or may be of any numberincluding at least one tooth in the smile.

In various embodiments, the treatment professional can superimpose anumber of restored smiles from a smile library database of potentialrestored smiles to determine the restored smile that is the mostappealing to the patient. This can allow the patient to visually see howdifferent smiles would look with their face and/or in their mouth. Insome embodiments, a computing device can include executable instructionsto guide the treatment professional in placing the restored smile inaccordance with established esthetic principles.

The patient can select a smile configuration that is desirable basedupon the smiles viewed from the smile library database. Additionally, atreatment professional and/or computing device executable instructionscan be used to aid in the selection of one or more smiles from thelibrary that may better fit the patient's mouth. This may beaccomplished, for example, by looking at the number of teeth, positionof teeth, position of gingiva, size of oral cavity, bone structure,and/or other factors.

In various embodiments, the method of designing a restored smile allowsthe treatment professional to enter patient information, upload afrontal image, edit and/or optimize the frontal image, and/or identifykey patient landmarks and/or measurements. The treatment professionalcan use a computer readable program executable on a computing device toselect a dentition similar to the patient which will be used to show thevalue of the overall treatment plan.

Using an included smile library, the treatment professional can swap outsmiles on the patient's image to illustrate various looks. In someembodiments, these smiles can be visible on both the patient's images,as well as the treatment plan that is developed to implement therestored smile.

In some embodiments, executable instructions can be utilized such thatthe doctor may be able to toggle between the actual smile and theproposed smile or make one or the other semi-transparent so as to view asuperimposed image of the two to observe the differences in position,shape, and size, for example. In some embodiments, the database caninclude common smile configurations, popular smile configurations,selected by previous prospective patients, and/or specialized smileconfigurations, like those of celebrities, among other types of smiles.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of an impression of a set of teeth anda digital model of the set of teeth according to the present disclosure.In various embodiments, the impression of the user's teeth 500 can betaken with an impression kit.

The impression of the user's teeth 500 or the teeth of the patient canthen be scanned and the data gathered by the scan can then be used toform a digital model of the impression of user's teeth 505. The digitalmodel of the impression of the user's teeth 505 can, for example,provide a digital image of the user's teeth that maps the outsidesurface (e.g., using a number of points) of the impression of the user'steeth 500 to allow 360° viewing the user's teeth. The digital model 505can then be studied by a treatment professional to determine if a dentalcondition exists with the user's teeth, which can be easier and can bemore thoroughly studied for longer time periods than looking into themouth of the user while the user is at the treatment professional'soffice.

In various embodiments, the patient can select a restored smile that thepatient wants to achieve through treatment and the treatmentprofessional can analyze the patient's teeth with images and digitalmodels of the patient's teeth, a treatment plan can be prescribed by thetreatment professional. The treatment plan can include a number ofmethods, including the moving of one or more teeth, movement and/orchange to the gingiva, removal of bone mass, and/or addition or removalof tooth mass, among other methods.

In some embodiments, a treatment plan can be created based upon thecomparison of the digital model of the user's teeth to the existingcases indexing database. Various prior treatment plans of prior patientscan be stored in the existing cases indexing database.

In such embodiments, the treatment plan can be derived from thetreatment plans of prior patients by comparing dental conditions totheir response to various treatment plans. Prior treatment plans thatwere used to treat to dental conditions that are similar to the user'sdental condition can, for example, be identified and used as part of thetreatment plan that is generated during the comparison of the digitalmodel to prior cases in the automated evaluation process.

In various embodiments, the treatment plan can be implemented by thetreatment professional when the patient commits to moving forward withthe treatment plan. In some embodiments, the treatment professional cansubmit patient records to a computing device for automated analysis,receive an automated analysis for the patient that details the patient'sorthodontic treatment, as well as illustrates the final restorationsand/or what the smile will look like on the three-dimensional teeth inthe mouth, and/or on the face of patient.

In some embodiments, the treatment plan can include an analysis of thecurrent occlusion and the benefits that orthodontia will play in theoutcome, such as tooth depth and/or mass reduction, root canal risk,etc. In some embodiments, the final smile can be visible in a number ofviews such as the patient frontal and smile close-up image views, amongothers.

In various embodiments, the treatment professional can have the abilityvia the smile database to make incremental changes to the smile to makesure the patient has the smile that they want before accepting theproposed treatment. This can be accomplished, for example, by utilizingexecutable instructions for movement of one or more teeth, movementand/or change to the gingiva such as gingival contouring from crownlengthening, removal of bone mass, and/or removal of tooth mass, amongother methods. In some embodiments, the process of making incrementalchanges to the smile can be an iterative process between the treatmentprofessional and a computer executable program on a computing devicethat can design restored smiles, as the process can includemodifications to the dental setup and/or the three-dimensional finalrestoration.

In some embodiments, after designing the smile for the patient andaccepting the treatment plan, the treatment professional can receive aphysical model of the final restoration, and a template aligner of thisrestoration to be used when creating a provisional final restorativemodel for the patient.

In some embodiments, the final position model and template can be sentto the treatment professional. The treatment professional can alsoreceive aligners that can be used to implement the dental treatmentportion of the treatment plan. The aligners can be sent to the treatmentprofessional and used in a similar manner as aligners that are sent foronly an orthodontic treatment.

In various embodiments, once an orthodontic treatment portion of thetreatment plan is completed, the treatment professional can have theability to create a comprehensive treatment form for submission to a labof their choice for ceramic veneer manufacturing. In some embodiments,the form can be pre-populated with existing information regarding thepatient's dental condition and/or provide guided questions and/orfree-form data entry.

In various embodiments, once the orthodontic portion of the treatmentplan is complete, the treatment professional can begin cosmeticrestorations. In some such embodiments, the treatment professional can,for example, remove tooth mass using a template as a guide. Thetreatment professional can remove tooth mass until a template fits inthe patient's mouth, for example, with enough depth for ceramic veneers.In such embodiments, the treatment professional can then take animpression of the patient's teeth.

In some embodiments, the treatment professional can fill the templatewith resin and insert it in the patient's mouth. The resin can cure onthe patient's teeth and the template can be removed from the patient'smouth. In various embodiments, final adjustment can be made to thepatient's smile by adjusting the resin on the patient's tooth.

In various embodiments, an impression of the patient's teeth with theresin on them can be taken by the treatment professional. The impressionof the patient's teeth with the resin and the impression of thepatient's teeth without the resin can, for example, be used to create aset of ceramic veneers. Resin veneers can, for example, be used asprovisional restorations, or also as permanent restorations (if ceramicveneers are not subsequently created), or with additional adjustmentssuch as heat curing or shade modification. If ceramic veneers arecreated, such veneers can be bonded to the patient's teeth and thepatient has their desired restored smile.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the patient's teeth and a dentalappliance to treat a dental condition of the patient according to thepresent disclosure. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, thepatient's teeth 600 are treated with an aligner 606 to move thepatient's teeth according the treatment plan. The aligner 606 can beplaced over the patient's teeth 600 onto the patient's gingiva 604. Thealigner 606 can move the patient's teeth 600 by applying pressure to theteeth. In some embodiments, several aligners can be used toincrementally move the patient's teeth into the desired position toimprove the patient's occlusion.

In various embodiments, a number of dental appliances can be given tothe patient to implement the dental treatment to the patient's teeththat is part of the treatment plan. Each of the appliances can be usedin succession to incrementally move the patient's teeth. In someembodiments, each aligner can be used by the patients for varyingamounts of time depending on the distance each aligner moves thepatient's teeth. One aligner can be used for 1-3 weeks, for example,among other time periods.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the patient's teeth after the teethhave been treated for a dental condition and are prepared for anadditional restorative tooth structure according to the presentdisclosure. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the patient's teeth 700 havebeen treated to improve the patient's occlusion. The improved occlusioncan be part of the treatment plan to restore the patient's smile.

In some embodiments, the patient's teeth can have a portion of the toothremoved to allow the patient's teeth to be prepared for the addition ofa restorative tooth structure. The treatment professional can removetooth mass using a template as a guide.

In some embodiments, an aligner may serve as the template. In someembodiments, the template can be created as part of a treatment plan toallow the treatment professional to only remove the portion of thepatient's teeth for the restored smile and not to damage the patient'steeth with excessive tooth mass removal or excessive depth in thepreparation(s).

The treatment professional can remove tooth mass until a template fitsin the patient's mouth with the correct amount of depth for ceramicveneers, for example. The treatment professional can then take animpression of the patient's teeth.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of an additional restorative toothstructure according to the present disclosure. In the embodiment of FIG.8, the restorative tooth structure 800, can be placed over the patient'steeth that have had tooth mass removed and bonded to the patient's teethto provide the restored smile for the patient.

In various embodiments, the restorative tooth structure can include adental veneer template. The dental veneer template can, for example, bescaled to the dimensions of the patient's teeth incorporated into thetreatment plan. In some embodiments, the color, contour, and/or relativetooth size of the dental veneer template can be modified.

In some embodiments, the restorative tooth structure 800 can befabricated through an impression molding process. In some embodiments,the treatment professional can fill the template with resin and insertit in the patient's mouth. The resin can cure on the patient's teeth andthe template can be removed from the patient's mouth. In variousembodiments, final adjustment can be made to the patient's smile byadjusting the resin on the patient's tooth.

In various embodiments, an impression of the patient's teeth with theresin on them can be taken by the treatment professional. The impressionof the patient's teeth with the resin and the impression of thepatient's teeth without the resin can be used to create a set ofveneers, among other functions. In some embodiments, the veneers can bebonded to the patient's teeth to form the occlusion for the patient'srestored smile.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a frontal image of a patient's faceafter treating a dental condition and adding a restorative toothstructure according to the present disclosure. In the embodiment of FIG.9, the frontal image 900 of the patient's face illustrates the restoredsmile of the patient after implementation of the treatment plan. Thefrontal image 900 can be used to illustrate the effects of the treatmentplan in achieving the restored smile to the patient, among other uses.

In various embodiments, the frontal image can also be stored in adatabase to show other patient's the restored smile results of atreatment plan. The image can be used by other patient's to select arestored smile that would be desirable, for example. In someembodiments, other patient's can superimpose the restored smile over animage of their face to visualize the restored smile on their face.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method embodiment for treating a dental conditionand adding a restorative tooth structure according to the presentdisclosure. The embodiment of FIG. 10 includes scanning a patient'steeth 1010.

The embodiment of FIG. 10 also includes developing a digital model via acomputing device, where the model represents the patient's teeth basedupon the scan 1020 and creating a dental treatment plan to repositionone or more teeth from an initial configuration to a successiveconfiguration 1030. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the method includesarranging one or more teeth of the successive configuration into a finalposition based on the one or more teeth having a planned additionalrestorative tooth structure 1040.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of a computing device to perform amethod embodiment for treating a dental condition and adding arestorative tooth structure according to the present disclosure. Thecomputing device 1110 illustrated in FIG. 11, includes a processor 1112and memory 1114. Memory 1114 can include various types of informationincluding data 1116 and/or a number of computing device executableinstructions 1118 as discussed herein.

Memory can be used for a variety of different functions in the variousembodiments. For example, memory can be used to store executableinstructions that can be used to interact with the other components ofthe network including other computing devices and/or can be used tostore information, such as instructions for manipulating one or morefiles.

For instance, in some embodiments, a computing device can includeexecutable instructions for saving a number of scans and/or digitalmodels to one or more files in memory. Such instructions can, forexample, be instructions for saving local scans and/or digital models,scans and/or digital models from another computing device on a network,or a combination of two or more of these.

Additionally, as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 11, a system caninclude a network interface 1120. Such an interface can allow forprocessing on one or more networked computing devices or such devicescan be used to transmit and/or receive scans and/or digital modelsand/or executable instructions for use with various embodiments providedherein.

The network interface 1120 can connect the computing device to anetwork. The network can be connected to other computing devices thatcan execute scans and/or digital models of the user's teeth.

A digital model obtained from a scanner that is interfaced withcomputing device 1110 can be sent on the network to other computingdevices. A number of treatment professionals can have access to thecomputing devices on the network so they can view and diagnose thedental condition of a user based on the digital model from a remotelocation.

As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 11, a system can include one ormore input and/or output interfaces 1122. Such interfaces can be used toconnect the computing device with one or more input and/or outputdevices.

For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, the systemincludes connectivity to a scanning device 1124, a camera dock 1126, anda keyboard 1128. The scanning device 1124 can be used to scan the user'steeth.

The data from the scan of the user's teeth can be used to form a digitalmodel of the user's teeth, which treatment professionals can use todiagnose a dental condition of the user's teeth, among other uses. Thecamera dock 1126 can receive a camera that can take images of thepatient's face and teeth and the images can be uploaded to the computingdevice 1112.

Such connectivity on a network can allow for the input and/or output ofmanipulations (e.g., changes to the common file embedded in executableinstructions) among other types of information. Although someembodiments may be distributed among various computing devices withinone or more networks, such systems as illustrated in FIG. 11, can bebeneficial in allowing for the capture, calculation, and/or analysis ofthe various information discussed herein.

Various embodiments include the use of executable instructions toaccomplish one or more processes. Such instructions can, for example, beimplemented on one or more computing devices and therefore in suchembodiments, the executable instructions should be viewed as beingcomputing device executable instructions for implementation by one ormore computing devices.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same techniques can be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments of thedisclosure.

It is to be understood that the use of the terms “a”, “an”, “one ormore”, “a number of”, or “at least one” are all to be interpreted asmeaning one or more of an item is present. Additionally, it is to beunderstood that the above description has been made in an illustrativefashion, and not a restrictive one. Combination of the aboveembodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described hereinwill be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the abovedescription.

The scope of the various embodiments of the disclosure includes anyother applications in which the above structures and methods are used.Therefore, the scope of various embodiments of the disclosure should bedetermined with reference to the appended claims, along with the fullrange of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are groupedtogether in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining thedisclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the embodiments of the disclosure requiremore features than are expressly recited in each claim.

Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter liesin less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, thefollowing claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

What is claimed:
 1. A computing device implemented method for designinga smile, the method comprising: receiving scan data of a patient'steeth; developing a digital model of the patient's teeth via thecomputing device, where the model represents the patient's teeth basedupon the scan data; receiving image data of a smile of the patientincluding at least a frontal image of a patient's lips defining thesmile and teeth of the patient that are visible between the lips in thesmile data; mapping a number of reference points in the image data ofthe smile and creating a line that intersects the reference points thatdefines an inner lip line of the smile; creating a dental treatment planfor the digital model of the patient's teeth to move one or more of thepatient's teeth from an initial condition through a number of successiveconditions to a final condition; and combining the digital model of thepatient's teeth with the image data of the smile of the patientincluding the inner lip line of the smile to provide the smile as itwould appear in the final condition according to the inner lip line andthe digital model in the final condition.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the method includes developing a digital model of one or morefacial features of the patient in combination with the digital model ofthe patient's teeth.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the methodincludes editing the inner lip line of the smile in the model.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the method includes identifying a number ofteeth within a boundary area of the inner lip line of the smile.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, wherein the method includes scaling a dental veneertemplate based on the identified teeth to dimensions of the patient'steeth.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the method includes previewinga number of smile configurations from a smile library.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the method includes selecting a smile configurationfrom the smile library.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the methodincludes designing a series of removable dental positioning appliancesto implement the orthodontic treatment plan.
 9. A computing system,comprising: a processor; a data storage device communicatively coupledto the processor, the data storage device containing executableinstructions to cause a computing device to: receive scan data of apatient's teeth; develop a digital model of the patient's teeth, wherethe model represents the patient's teeth based upon the scan data;receive image data of a smile of the patient including at least afrontal image of a patient's lips defining the smile and teeth of thepatient that are visible between the lips in the smile data; map anumber of reference points in the image data of the smile and creating afine that intersects the reference points that defines an inner lip lineof the smile; create a dental treatment plan for the digital model ofthe patient's teeth to move one or more of the patient's teeth from aninitial condition through a number of successive conditions to a finalcondition; and combine the digital model of the patient's teeth with theimage data of the smile of the patient including the inner lip line ofthe smile to provide the smile as it would appear in the final conditionaccording to the inner lip line and the digital model in the finalcondition.
 10. The system of claim 9, including instructions to developa digital model of one or more facial features of the patient incombination with the digital model of the patient's teeth.
 11. Thesystem of claim 9, including instructions to edit the inner lip line ofthe smile in the model.
 12. The system of claim 11, includinginstructions to identify a number of teeth within a boundary area of theinner lip line of the smile.
 13. The system of claim 12, includinginstructions to scale a dental veneer template based on the identifiedteeth to dimensions of the patient's teeth.
 14. The system of claim 12,including instructions to preview a number of smile configurations froma smile library.
 15. The system of claim 14, including instructions toselect a smile configuration from the smile library.
 16. The system ofclaim 15, including instructions to design a series of removable dentalpositioning appliances to implement the orthodontic treatment plan. 17.A computing device readable medium having executable instructions whichcan be executed by a processor to cause a computing device to perform amethod, comprising: receiving scan data of a patient's teeth; developinga digital model of the patient's teeth via the computing device, wherethe model represents the patient's teeth based upon the scan data;receiving image data of a smile of the patient including at least afrontal image of a patient's lips defining the smile and teeth of thepatient that are visible between the lips in the smile data; mapping anumber of reference points in the image data of the smile and creating aline that intersects the reference points that defines an inner lip lineof the smile; creating a dental treatment plan for the digital model ofthe patient's teeth to move one or more of the patient's teeth from aninitial condition through a number of successive conditions to a finalcondition; and combining the digital model of the patient's teeth withthe image data of the smile of the patient including the inner lip lineof the smile to provide the smile as it would appear in the finalcondition according to the inner lip line and the digital model in thefinal condition.
 18. The medium of claim 17, wherein the method includesdeveloping a digital model of one or more facial features of the patientin combination with the digital model of the patient's teeth.
 19. Themedium of claim 17, wherein the method includes editing the inner lipline of the smile in the model.
 20. The medium of claim 19, wherein themethod includes identifying a number of teeth within a boundary area ofthe inner lip line of the smile.
 21. The medium of claim 20, wherein themethod includes scaling a dental veneer template based on the identifiedteeth to dimensions of the patient's teeth.
 22. The medium of claim 20,wherein the method includes previewing a number of smile configurationsfrom a smile library.
 23. The medium of claim 22, wherein the methodincludes selecting a smile configuration from the smile library.
 24. Themedium of claim 23, wherein the method includes designing a series ofremovable dental positioning appliances to implement the orthodontictreatment plan.